Owls beat Huskies for first time since 1978
Tim Bradshaw
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Sports
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In their final regular season game, the Keene State College Owls shocked the Division III women's basketball world as they defeated the sixth ranked team in the country, the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 62-50.
Senior captain Bri Barnes led all scorers with 23 points, going 4-7 from beyond the arc and shooting better than 50 percent from the floor.
"We've put in so much effort and hard work, it was time for us to reap the benefits," said KSC head coach Keith Boucher.
The win marks the first time in six years a team from the Little East Conference has beaten SMU, who has won the LEC championship 10 years in a row.
"This is just amazing," said Barnes. "This is the best feeling in the world."
The win also marks the first time KSC has ever beaten SMU since joining the LEC, losing 22 straight before the win.
"When we first saw the schedule, we knew we had to try and go out on top," said Barnes.
The Huskies came out gunning, taking an early 8-6 lead, but it would be their last of the game. The teams exchanged baskets for most of the first half, until Barnes hit back-to-back three pointers with just under seven minutes in the half to take the lead 18-12.
KSC was without their star forward Sarah Begnoche for most of the first half due to foul trouble.
"It was definitely frustrating not being able to play," said Begnoche.
"We didn't change our game plan," said Boucher. "A lot of people stepped it up when she (Begnoche) went out."
The lead would have been larger, but KSC struggled at the free throw line, shooting just 40 percent from the charity stripe.
With KSC up on the scoreboard and just seconds remaining, Barnes hit a three as time expired to head to the locker room with a 30-20 lead.
As the second half started, so did Begnoche, as she drained her first two shots to give the Owls a 14 point lead.
SMU's star forward Ashley Marble was held in check all game due to KSC's tough defense, which forced 18 turnovers and eight steals.
"We had to try and shut her down," said senior Caitlin Jamiel. "She is an amazing player, so we had to play some defense against her."
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